Instead of letting it spend the rest of its days in your closet, try these suggestions instead.

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Singapore Tatler Ball attendees, there’s no way you could have missed the gorgeous display of standout gowns this year. We can’t deny the beauty of Ching Lin’s Oscar de la Renta, Min-Li’s Zuhair Murad and Dana’s Gucci. However, a modern fashion icon is not just known for her impeccable tastes; the true mark of a style star is in what she does with her clothes—as she wears them, after she wears them.

Our suggestion? Consider giving your breathtaking Marchesas and Guccis a second shot at love. Online gown rental expert Covetella, for example, is a great place to start. Headed by a team of curators, the website is home to some serious Badgley Mischka, Monique Lhuillier and John Paul Ataker.

This fashion eco-consciousness not only saves you storage space (and dry cleaning woes), it offers you a chance to do good. Covetella gives you the option of donating 40 per cent of your profit to the charity of your choice; we hear that Elaine Kim is a fellow supporter—how lovely!

In the spirit of giving, we talk to some of our friends to find out what happens to the gowns they wear to our galas and events.    


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“Carol Chen, the founder of Covetella is my dear friend and a member of Crib Society—the social enterprise I co-founded to empower women in becoming successful entrepreneurs. She asked if I wanted to donate my gowns and I am more than happy to support her. The Covetella team handpicks my dresses—mostly from my favourite designers like Monique Lhuillier and Marchesa—and decides which ones to put onto the website. I don’t mind leaving the pieces with them because it helps to save some room in my wardrobe. If I want to wear one of my gowns, I’ll just inform them and they’ll deliver it back to me.” — Elaine Kim


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“Where possible, I donate my gowns by sending them to Sri Lanka via my dad or my helper. If I can’t bear to part with the pieces, I’ll store it and recycle much later. Amidst an increase in textile production and consumption, sustainable fashion is a growing trend. Recycling is a good way to help reduce my carbon foot print and I intend to play my part when I can.” — Iroshini Chua


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“I have a confession: I’m a hoarder—I don’t give my gowns away too soon! When I do, they go to my housekeeper’s family in the Philippines, who loan them to pageant participants for a small fee. I’m told everyone is thrilled about my “Barbie” gowns.” — Celeste Basapa


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“I keep all my gowns and while I haven’t donated any gowns, I intend to sell to places like Covetella soon as my wardrobe is getting overcrowded.” — Linda Soo-Tan


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“I usually keep my gowns in a separate closet at home. For me, each piece has a story or memory. Frankly, I find it hard to give them away, so I re-wear them at certain occasions. My sister, who’s about my size, would borrow them some times.” — Elaine Lim-Chan


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“For the pieces that I’m unlikely to wear again, I give them away to my sister and friends. However, I’ll keep the classic pieces as well as those that fit me better, and occasionally re-wear them for other events.” — Ho Ching Lin